________________
AN EPITOME OF JAINISM.
10. Arya Mahagiri. He was of Elapatya gotra, entered the order at the age of 30, passed 40 years in Sâmanya vrata and was the head of the church for 30 years up to 278 B.C. He died at the age of 100, that is 249 years after Mahavira. He had two pupils named Behula and Balissaha, the latter's pupil was the famous Umaswati Vâchaka, author of Tattwartha Sutra and other works and his pupil was Shyâmâcharya, the author of Pannavanâ
Sutra.
II. Arya Suhasti. Like Bhadrabahu, he was a brother-disciple of Mahagiri and belonged to Vasistha Gotra. He was a householder for 30 years and the head of the church for 46 years (16 years after Mahagiri) up to 262 B. C. He died 265 years (according to some 291 years) after Mahavira, at the age of 100. He converted king Samprati, grandson of the great Asoka, to Jainism, who erected many temples and dedicated vast number of images throughout the length and breadth of his empire. He tried to spread Jainism even in foreign lands. He was the 17th successor of king Srenika and his reign
662
